Can I Insist On My Doctor Putting My Medical Condition Right In A Letter

[fedupandfifty]

my doctor gave me a letter years ago to forward onto a council where I am bidding on houses so I can move near my doctor. He put that I can only have ground floor level because I have sciatica. The letter was logged into their system. The diagnosis was not right because I am able to use stairs, and have done all my life. The only time I get pain is if I am sitting too long or stand in one spot. The council housing said I cannot have a bungalow because they have to wait until someone dies before it becomes empty and there is a shortage as they are not built any more. A ground floor flat would mean I would not get a garden, only communal if I am lucky, so gardening is out and having no stairs would mean also I would not get the exercise I need. I have an underactive thyroid and belong to a slimming club. If I were to take a downstairs flat that would mean I would put on weight through lack of exercise. I have no problem getting up and down the stairs. I have asked the doctor years ago to give me another letter to say I can use stairs and he didn't. I have now got to the stage where I have written another letter to the senior doctor this week hoping he will change the details. A different doctor last week, only gave me a duplicate of the first one. I had gone to great lengths to say that the details of my medical condition is wrong, but it made no difference. I have lived in an area where I have received verbal abuse, and have a neighbour that has come into my garden, and been a peeping tom. Also had much more incidents with him where the police was involved. I now have a padlock on my side back gate put there by the housing association for security. I have had to be a witness in court this year which was a farce, involving teenagers that are in trouble with the law anyway, and we all live together in a cul de sac. That has added to my health going down. My children all live four hundred miles away and I don't get any support. My only relatives are visually impairs and one has loss of hearing. I need to be with my own family down south. I have lived in this house for fifteen years and now have got a councillor to help, which is now involving the Police Commisioner due to the state of crime in my area. The letter logged with the housing association in the area I want to be has blocked me from bidding on the only accomodation that is available. I cannot have a bungalow as the h/a has stated and a flat is out of the quesiton for me. My bidding has been skipped over. I could have had a house years ago, and new estates are being built right now which I am eligible for, even one beds. I don't know what to do next. Is there anyone that can advise. I am awaiting now for a doctor to right me up, but am really worried that they are not going to change the details. I want a letter stating I am able to use stairs, and have done all the time without difficulty, and it is beneficial to me.

[EDDIE51]

From what you say you do not have any medical problem that means you need a specific type of house. You have no problems with stairs so you do not need a flat or bungalow. Just get the doctor to say that you no longer need a single floor dwelling and then bid for anything that comes up. Why is a flat 'out of the question?' It is almost certainly the only type of house you will get . There are very few one bed 2 story houses which seems the only other option. I assume you are on you own? if so you can ONLY apply for a 1 bedroom property and there are far too few of them available for the demand.

[EDDIE51]

Have you asked the council about 'downsizing' if you have more than 1 bedroom now you can apply to downsize to a 1 bedroom place ( which as I said is all you are entitled to). The council need multi bed room houses for families and there are cash incentives to downsize to a one bedroom place.
An elderly lady I know has just done this she gave up her 2 bed house for a 1 bed 'senior citizen ' bungalow. She got her moving expenses paid and £1500 cash.

[Baldric]

Links to this

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question1434942.html

[Elina]

Eddie ... there's an update .. New thread.

[bednobs]

your post puzzles me greatly.
If the letter was given to you, but was wrong, why did you hand it to the council to be logged?
"If I were to take a downstairs flat that would mean I would put on weight through lack of exercise." - Why? are you saying your only exercise is walking up stairs? if so, there are plenty of public stairs! Or there are steppers you can buy http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9237221.htm. Or just go for a walk/cycle!
you say "even a one bedroomed" but what else would you get? i don't know your circumstances, but you haven't mentioned anyone else you live with
What seems more likely is that you hoped the letter saying you couldn't do stairs would make you a priority and get you moved quicker, but when you found out it wouldn't, you now want it retracted?

[fedupandfifty]

Hi Eddie, thanks for your understanding. Firstly I made a bloomer. I said I wanted to live WITH my daughter. I meant near. She has a full house. The next town a couple miles away are having new estates, (yes new estates) being built with ONE BED HOUSES, and they are being listed on the choice based lettings as we speak so could get snapped up. There are houses all sizes. I live in a 2 bed house so it would free up my place for a family which is great. I am eligible, but this stairs thing has scuppered it. I am awaiting a reply from doc's. I have asked the housing ass. to hold fire for a fax. I hope you all don't mind me getting my frustrations out on here. Problem with doctors is now the waiting time is so long for appointments etc. Fingers crossed now.

[fedupandfifty]

HI there. The retraction would make it so that the medical facts are actually factual. I would be freeing up a 2 bed house anyway for a family. I should have a choice for choice based lettings. I don't like flats as I had a flat once and never again. I think giving up a 2 bed house if a good thing I would have thought. I have not given miss information about things. My choice is that I don't want to go and by steps, but prefer gardening, where flats more often than not do not offer. By putting me in this position I am actually hanging on to a 2 bed house, whicI would prefer to do. That would mean then a family being denied a place to live. I either move or don't move, that is the question. If I move, I give a family a 2 bed house, and I get someing I WANT. I have put a lot of money into this place, gardens as well with all the shrubs. Decorated the place. Why should I give all that up if I am only going to get something I don't want, I don't think so. I feel I am entitled to something nice as I am passing it onto other people. A new family may come along and have kids that will ruin everything with their bikes, toys etc, but that is ok as it has not cost them anything. I would like a place where I can feel I can call home. Not a lot to ask really. I would get one bedroom less anyway, so all is fair. I will not feel guilty because I don't want a flat.

[Mamyalynne]

It seems quite odd that the doctor or practice is refusing to amend these details,have you actually made an appointment and asked them why?

[fedupandfifty]

HI, sorry for not responding to people individually, I am knew to this site. I will use your links to respond directly. Apologies to those concerned.

[bednobs]

well, if you want what you want, then find somewhere to privately rent, then you can chose exactly where you live/how many bedrooms AND garden situation. If you want what you feel you are ENTITLED to then just go and get it?
If, however, you wan't to be socially housed, you probably have to make do with either an area you don't want or a dwelling that doesn't fit your perfect exact criteria. I am still really puzzled why flats are so terrible, why you handed in the letter that was wrong or why it's taken you years to try to sort it?